Centrifugalizer



.March 6, 1934. Q c sou 1,949,647

CENTRIFUGALIZER Filed June 1, 1951 2'Sheets-Sheet 1 l Inventor,

WM/Htomey.

March 6,1934. L, Q ERICKSQN 1,949,647

Filed June 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Shet 2 @00 GCDGQGCD 5 00 IV/AI lQ/AiPatented Mar. 6, 1934 "i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1,949,647 CENTRIFUGALIZER Lewis G. Erickson, Bellingham, Wash.Application June 1, 1931, SerialNo. 541,172

3 Claims. (01. 209-199) This invention relates to centrifugal separatorsand amalgamators in general, particularly to that class and descriptionof separating and amalgamating mechanisms applicable to theconcentration of precious metals, but more especially to centrifugalseparators, wherein mercury is employed.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a centrifugalizer inwhich rotary mechanism is provided and so arranged and operated that thecentrifugal forces developed therein will be more highly efficient inthe separation and amalgamation of gold and other precious metals frommilled quartz, from dirt or sand, than heretofore attained in. machinesof this character now in use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a centrifugalizer ofthe character described, in which certain operative parts when worn, canbe taken out of the machine and replaced with new parts without the lossof the. main structural operative parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugalizer of thecharacter stated, in which the rotary parts can be milled and puttogether to a nicety, whereby perfect symmetry and balanced operationwill be attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centriiugalizer of thecharacter described, in which a mercury receptacle or trapis locatedunder the overflow waste, in which all mercury and amalgamations thatmay overflow from the rotary bowl will be collected, separated andsaved.

. a still further object of the invention is to provide acentrifugalizer mechanism of the class described, wherein the velocityof rotation of certain parts can be so varied that the centrifugal forcewill be multiplied a desired number '1 of times above gravity, and themercury em- Figure l is a central vertical section of the invention withpart of the left front corner shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a partialtop view of the invention with the top cover and feed hopper removed;Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the top cover in which the curvedbafiles on the underside are shown; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of therim and side wall of the centrifugal bowl and the cylindrical rifllesleeve lining with the sleeve partly developed into a plane to show theriffles in elevation; and Fig. 5 is a similar small section anddevelopment in which another form of rifiles that may be used is shown.

Similar characters represent similar parts in each of the several views.I

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the supporting frame forthe centrifugalizer consists of four upright corner posts 1, l. A basemember 2 and a cross member 3 fixed to the posts 1 make a completestable frame structure for supporting the operative parts of the inven-'tion. 'A central vertical shaft 4 is fixed in the members 2 and 3 and ismade verticallyadjustable by means of a threaded screw end with locknuts 5 and 6 at the base member 2. I

The vertical shaft 4 is'provided with ball or roller bearings at 7 and 8on which the centrifugalizing bowl 9 is supported and rotated. Thisvertical shaft being rigidly fixed in the frame members as described,the bowl is made to rotate in perfect balance, the ball bearings beingsuitably spaced apart to insure freedom from vibration.

One means of rotating the bowl 9 shown in the drawings is the disk wheel10 which is screwed tion wheel 11 mounted on the slip shaft 12 anddriven by an electric motor 13, contacts and drives the disk wheel 10',the speed of which can be varied by setting the friction wheel 11 in orout on its shaft l2.' Other means of rotation, such as a belt applied tothe hubpulley l4 and connected with power means not shown, may be used.This method of operation will not have available theready means ofvarying the speed of rotation as in the adjustable friction wheel 11.

The centrifugalizer consists of the rotary bowl 9 with an extension 9aup its center. thus making the bowl chamber 15 annular shaped. Theupward extension is milled out in the center to admit the vertical shaft4 with its ball bearings previously described on which it is designed torotate. This opening is made .sufliciently large to provide an annularlubricant chamber 16 around the shaft. The bowl is fixed to the top ofthe shaft by the nut headed screw 17. This is inclosed and protected bya semispherical cap 18 screwed to the top of the central extension 9a.

The entire bowl 9 and 9a is neatly mill'turned inside and outside toequal thickness and to center on the vertical shaft 4 when mountedthereon, and the inner surface of the outer bowl is smoothly milled toreceive a neatly fitted cylindrical riflle sleeve 19 which is likewisemilled to an exact thickness so the entire bowl will rotate free ofvibration. This sleeve is designed to be taken out when damaged by theaction of gritty sands or other substances, and replaced with a newsleeve.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the mercury rifiles comprise aseries of holes 20 of uniform size and spaced equally apart and drilledthrough the sleeve wall. These holes are staggered in alternate rows soas to effectually receive and hold the mercury in rotation with the bowland against its upward tendency.

The top edge of the bowl 9 is provided with an annular capping 21 madeto neatly fit the top of the bowl and cover the rifile sleeve 19 with aninner overhang 22 of approximately one sixteenth of an inch. Thisoverhang is designed to hold the vertical wall of mercury that will formon the inner surface of the sleeve when the riffle holes 20 becomeover-full from the amalgamation of the precious metals therein. Theouter rim of the capping 21 has a wide overhang with a drip edge 23 tocompel all overflow from the bowl to drip into the inclined waste flume24 made to encircle the bowl 9.

The waste flume 24 is inclined from the front side of the machine at 24aand after encircling the bowl, it turns out into a mercury trap 25 whichhas an overflow discharge 26. This mercury trap is designed to catch anymercury that may be forced over the annular capping 21. The mercury willimmediately settle at the bottom of the trap and to prevent anyworthless materials from clinging thereto, an agitator is provided inthe form of a shaft 27 through which a series of radial bars 28 arefixed. This agitator is turned by means of a friction wheel 29contacting the disk wheel 10. The shaft 30 operates a spiral gear 31 onthe shaft 27 of the agitator and the contents of the trap 25 areconstantly stirred thereby and the mercury set free from the lighterworthless materials. The mercury can be drawn out of the trap atsuitable intervals through the valve 32. I

The waste fiume and operative mechanism are supported on suitable framemembers fixed to the upright posts 1 with proper braces and stays tocomply with the usual shop practice in constructing machines of thischaracter. The drawings are designed to show the new and novel featuresof the operative parts without strict attention to the frame details.

The top cover 33 is made to overlap the waste flume 24 and is providedwith an inside rim 34 and curved baffles 35 so that all overflow wasteis made to drop within the fiume. The central opening is provided with aring 36 leaving openings 37 between. This ring 34 supports the feedhopper and down pipe 38 and 39 respectively. The openings 37 permit thecondition of the riflies and the mercury wall thereon to be inspectedwhen desired.

It will be seen that the down feed pipe extends down to the same levelas the riffle sleeve 19 and the mixed materials put therein to beseparated will be compelled to pass up the full length of the sleeve andthe mercury filled riflies 20 therein.

Preparatory to putting the newly improved centrifugalizer in operation,a sufficient quantity of mercury is put into the bowl to fill the riffieholes 20 to the inner face of the rifile sleeve 19. The machine is thenset rotating till the mercury passes up the sleeve till all holes arefull. The materials to be separated, preferably in a watery state, arethen fed into the hopper and on reaching the bottom of the bowl, thecentrifugal force at once drives them up the riiiie cylindrical wall andthe gold and other heavy precious metals are forced into the mercurywhere they amalgamate therewith, while the lighter worthless materialsare forced up and out over the annular capping 21 whence they flow downand around the Waste flume to the mercury trap and outlet. Should anymercury be forced over the capping, it will be caught in the mercurytrap 25 and be saved, as described.

When the mercury wall on the inside of the riflle sleeve is seen to beeven with the inner overhang 22, the machine is stopped when theamalgamated mercury will settle into the bottom of the bowl chamber 15from whence it is removed to be distilled from the precious metals to beagain used. A proper amount of fresh mercury is then put into the bowland the machine be again put in operation, The improved centrifugalizercan thus be used indefinitely and will require no care between cleanupintervals, when the length of those intervals become known. By means ofthe mercury trap all overflow values can be redeemed. When the riffiesleeve becomes worn by long use, a new sleeve can be put in withouthaving to make an entirely new bowl as is now required in other similarmachines.

It is to be observed that I do not limit myself to the one form of roundhole rifiles, but reserve the right to use other forms of riflies wheresymmetry and balance can be secured. In Fig. 5 is shown another form ofrifiie that can be cast on the face of the rifile sleeve to projectapproximately one-fourth of an inch therefrom. These rifiles areT-shaped, the top of the T being umbrella-shaped and the Ts staggeredsimilarly to the holes and as shown in Fig. 5. It will hardly bepossible to make this form of riflie as uniform in thickness and weightas with the round hole riflles.

Two or more dowels as indicated at 40, Fig. 4 join the annular cappingwith the bowl 9 and the sleeve 19 so that all will rotate in unison.

Referring again to the vertical shaft 4, it will be seen that the samecan be adjusted vertically by means of the lock nuts 5 and 6 at the basemember 2. By this means the disk wheel 10 can be so adjusted as to ridewith proper weight on the friction drive wheel 11 for positiveoperation. 1 5

The size of the rotary bowl 9 is designed to be varied in diameter anddepth to meet different requirements. It is believed that a diameter offrom six to twelve inches will be the most effective in operation,though I do not limit myself to these dimensions.

The operative parts of the invention are so constructed that they can bereadily taken apart for repairs or renewal of parts and fortransportation in the knockdown. The feed hopper 38 and the cover 33 canbe lifted from the machine to give access to the bowl chamber 15. Theannular capping 21 can be removed to allow the renewal of thecylindrical riille sleeve 19. The encircling waste fiume 24 can also beremoved leaving the bowl 9 free to be detached or unscrewed from thedisk wheel 10 should it be necessary to renew the roller bearings ormake other needed repairs. To do this the cover cap 18 must be unscrewedand the nut bolt 17 withdrawn. It will thus be seen that theconstruction of the invention is economical and practical in every part.Having described my invention, I claim:--- 1. A centrifugalizer of theclass described, comprising a unit bowl rotatively mounted, means forrotating said bowl, and said bowl having inner T-shaped rifiies in itsperiphery for receiving and holding mercury and amalgam when said bowlis in rapid rotation, as described and set forth.

2. A centrifugalizer of the class described, comprising a unit bowlrotatively mounted, said bowl being adapted to contain mercury andhaving a top discharge, means for rotating said bowl, an annularinclined waste fiume encircling said unit bowl, and said unit bowl andwaste flume inclosed with a close cover, said cover having inner curvedbaffles on its under side to collect and discharge overflow from saidbowl when in rapid rotation into said waste flume.

3. A centrifugalizer of the class described, including a unit bowlrotatively mounted, a series of rifiies on the interior periphery ofsaid unit bowl, means for rotating said unit bowl, an annular inclinedwaste flume encircling said bowl, means for collecting values that maybe discharged into said waste flume, a close cover with inside baflles'to inclose said bowl and fiume, said cover having a central feed hopperand pipe extending to the bottom of said bowl, and said cover havingopenings near said hopper through which the condition of said rifiiesmay be seen when said centrifugalizer is in operation.

LEWIS C. ERICKSON.

